In a great big blast from the past the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee), Jo Grant (Katy Manning) and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) return in a new five-part comic series from Titan Comics.

‘Doctor Who: The Third Doctor #1 is written by Paul Cornell – a familiar name to Doctor Who, previously writing for Virgin New Adventures, the revived series, Big Finish and comic strips for Doctor Who Magazine to name but a few. This new issue is illustrated by Christopher Jones (Batman 66, Young Justice).

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Downtime

Issue #1 opens with companion Jo Grant and Captain Mike Yates dining at an Indian Restaurant, before being summoned back to UNIT HQ by the Brigadier. Something mysterious has crash-landed in the heart of Bedfordshire, and the three have to tackle the issue head on.

Meanwhile, The Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) is having some downtime and playing a game of chess in what appears to be a gentlemen’s club, reminiscing about past adventures. It’s not long until the Doctor gets disrupted by a distress call, and sets off in his good old Bessie. But just who was he playing a game of chess with…?

Trouble is not far away

The Doctor arrives in the town of Fairford where he narrowly misses an explosion. Jo and the Brigadier soon arrive and it’s not long before the Doctor realises that the explosion is all part of a threat, unlike anything he’s ever seen. From the dust metal foot soilders emerge only to set upon the Doctor. But the Brigadier has had enough and decides to partake in one of his favourite past-times: blowing chaps up!

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Unhurt, the Doctor and Jo head back to UNIT HQ now more certain than ever that there are bigger forces at work. But as they enter the laboratory they are astonished to find a familiar face. Last time they were around, it spelt trouble.

Personally, I was excited by this cliff-hanger, and I’m sure many other fans of Doctor Who will be too!

A blast from the past

Terrance Dicks (Script Editor of the Pertwee Era) proclaims on the front cover that this story is “a handsomely-drawn epic” and he’s most certainly right. Barry Letts would be very proud indeed!

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The comic captures the essence of 1970s Doctor Who, and mixes it wonderfully with a hint of New Who. References are subtly made to old stories and cameos are made by a few other Pertwee- era characters.

Paul Cornell certainly doesn’t disappoint with writing the Third Doctor. There are images in the mind of him spending hours re-watching Pertwee, studying each character and story, taking notes with precise detail.

The beautiful, vividly coloured artwork of each character and background created by Christopher Jones conjure up memories of the Countdown and TV Action comic strips, with buildings and sets looking exactly the same 40-odd years later.

There are so many unanswered questions, as is often the case for the first issue. So the second is bound to be a real treat!

1 COMMENT

I just read this issue and it’s great. Just love seeing old characters, including those considered not to be major players, come back to life again. I thought I left comic books behind me, but with this issue I am glad to be proven wrong.